terminally

[ tur-muh-nl-ee ]

adverb

1. in a way that leads or is expected to lead shortly to death; fatally or lethally:

   We offer care and support for terminally ill people and their families through home nursing.

2. Informal. in a way that is beyond hope or rescue:

   I skipped her much-hyped interview with the terminally dull host of that new talk show.

3. at the end:

   In the remark “Pretty hot today, eh?” the terminally positioned tag “eh?” invites agreement.

4. Botany. at the end of a branch or stem:

   The plant has flower clusters 10–20 mm in diameter, which are located terminally.

5. Biology. at the conclusion of the process of modification from a stem cell:

   The cells terminally differentiate as they migrate from the basal layer of the epidermis to the surface.

Other Words From

• non·ter·min·al·ly adverb
• sub·ter·mi·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of terminally¹

terminal ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The bill, which was published this week, would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their life.

From BBC

This will be the first Commons vote on assisted dying since MPs rejected allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives under medical supervision in 2015.

From BBC

The 53-year-old has been told for the past five years that he is terminally ill and knows he could die tomorrow by choking on food or on his own saliva.

From BBC

Assisted dying, where someone who is terminally ill seeks medical help to obtain lethal drugs which they administer themselves, is currently banned in the UK.

From BBC

A proposed law to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons.

From BBC